Jeep is reportedly readying a version of its Gladiator pickup truck that should be capable of driving around two dozen miles on electric power alone.
Don’t fret, adventurous types: It’s safe to bet that a Gladiator 4xe will be a plug-in hybrid that features a gasoline-electric powertrain that takes over after the batteries are spent.
Jeep’s global chief, Christian Meunier, told Australia’s Go Auto that an electrified Gladiator pickup is a “for sure” thing.
Jeep already has the plug-in hybrid hardware
Jeep already has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that would work in the Gladiator in its recently-introduced Wrangler 4xe. That new Jeep model retains all the go-anywhere off-roady bits while also providing more efficiency and power.
The electrified powertrain pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with two electric motors and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The setup is good for a hefty 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Production of the 2021 Wrangler 4xe just started last month.
The system’s 17.0-kWh battery is tucked beneath the rear seat in the Wrangler 4xe, and given the Wrangler and Gladiator are essentially the same vehicles from row two forward, it’s a safe bet that the pickup will put its storage unit there as well. The Gladiator seen in the photos above is the standard model that’s available now.
The Jeep Wrangler and its Gladiator truck sibling both currently offer gasoline and diesel V6 options. The Wrangler can also be had with a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 470-horsepower V8 in the new Wrangler Rubicon 392.
